Entertainment

Best bets: C2E2 is back at McCormick Place

Posted April 10, 2012 6:00 am

By Scott C. Morgan

Fans dressed as characters from the Marvel and DC Comics universes pose to do “battle” at last year's Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2). The event returns to McCormick Place in Chicago from Friday to Sunday, April 13-15.

Comic confab

See why the word “fan” is derived from “fanatical” when costumed film and comic fans mingle with celebrities. Actors John Cusack, John Barrowman and author Anne Rice all make appearances at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2 for short) this weekend at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $25-$35 one-day pass; $50-$60 weekend pass. (800) 354-4003 or c2e2.com. 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 13; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 14; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Undead lookers

Lovers of those good-looking undead bloodsuckers from “The Vampire Diaries” won't want to miss their chance to celebrate the CW TV series when The Vampire Diaries Fan Convention arrives this weekend at the Westin O'Hare, 6100 River Road, Rosemont. $20-$65; $10 parking. (818) 409-0960 or thevampirediariesconvention.com. 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 14, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Fiery Ferrara

You may know actor and comedian Adam Ferrara from his TV stints on “Rescue Me” and “Top Gear,” but see him show off his standup comedy chops this weekend at The Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, April 13; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, April 14; and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Extremely fun

Kids and parents can feast on many forms of family entertainment when the Extreme Block Party rises this weekend at the Libertyville Sports Complex, at Route 45 and Peterson Road, Libertyville. Free. (847) 680-0750 or glmvchamber.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 14

Soviet comic opera

A Soviet housing shortage affects couples in love in Shostakovich's comic opera “Moscow, Cheryomushki,” now receiving its Chicago premiere in English courtesy of Chicago Opera Theater starting Saturday for four performances at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $45-$125. (312) 334-7777 or (312) 704-8414 or chicagooperatheater.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14, Friday, April 20, and Wednesday, April 25, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 22

Singing Disney

The New Philharmonic turns its attention to popular film music with “Disney in Concert: Magical Music From the Movies” with two weekend shows at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $55; $53 senior; $45 youth. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Illuminating glass

“Reinventing Radio: An Evening With Ira Glass” features that famed host of Chicago Public Radio's “This American Life” in conversation Saturday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$89. (888) 695-0888 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14

Elastic bodies

See the human form stretched to its artistic and limber limit when the world famous modern dance troupe Pilobolus performs at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $40-$42. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 8 p.m. Sunday, April 15

The music survives

Pianist and music professor Jeanne Golan performs selected sonatas of the murdered Jewish Czech composer Viktor Ullmann in a Holocaust Remembrance Day concert called “Music and Memories” at the Spertus Institute, 610 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 322-1700 or spertus.edu. 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19

John Cusack will make an appearance at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) this weekend. Associated Press file photo

Novelist Anne Rice will appear at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) at McCormick Place in Chicago. Associated Press file photo

See Paul Wesley, right, of The Vampire Diaries at The Vampire Diaries Official Convention on Sunday, April 15, at The Westin OHare in Rosemont. COURTESY OF ART STREIBER/THE CW

Adam Ferrara headlines The Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg this weekend. COURTESY OF SCOTT GRIES/COMEDY CENTRAL

Veteran Disney singer Candice Nicole appears with the New Philharmonic for Disney in Concert: Magical Music From the Movies this weekend at College of DuPages McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.

Reinventing Radio: An Evening With Ira Glass features the famed host of This American Life at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles on Saturday, April 14.

The dancers of Pilobolus come to the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg on Sunday, April 15. COURTESY OF JOHN KANE/PILOBOLUS

Jeanne Golan performs select sonatas of Jewish Czech composer Viktor Ullmann as part of a Holocaust Remembrance Day concert called Music and Memories at the Spertus Institute in Chicago.

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